Stories: An Unexpected Blessing
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| I received my mission call to South Africa in the summer of 1998. However, the news of my destination was not revealed to my family until November during our family Thanksgiving with relatives. As Christmas arrived my father bought for me Prof. LeBaron's compilation "All Are Alike Unto God," containing the testimonies of some of the first pioneer members of the Church among the native African people in various countries.
Upon arriving in South Africa, I devoted a little time to read the stories of these brethren and sisters and was very touched with their devotion and sincerity in being true to the faith. Among these there included eight South African members, including the late Sis. Julia Mavimbela of Soweto and Bro. Moses Mahlangu. I felt it a joy would the opportunity be given, to meet some of these brethren and sisters. However, as most of them were from the Johannesburg region, the possibilites seemed very unlikely.
During the latter half of the second year, I worked in the Langa township in Cape Town and came across two sisters whose husbands had passed away before they joined the Church. In the Spirit's whisperings, I felt prompted to gather their information for the temple, as I had devotedly planned to visit in Johanessburg prior to the completion of my proselyting.
The two years came and went, and my parents arrived at the airport. We spent a week seeing places we otherwise could have not, steadily making way towards Johanessburg and the temple. Upon arrival, I prepared for the work inside.
My father and I together performed the ordinances for the two brethren and as I awaited to complete the endowments, the door was opened to reveal a small elderly Xhosa sister. I looked to see her nametag "Dolly Henrietta Ndlovu" and a moment of shock struck; she being one of the pioneer members of the Church. My heart was joyed even more as I whispered to her my desires of having wanted to meet her after reading her spiritual testimony. I completed the endowments and gave a short prayer of thanks to the Lord for the blessing of not only performing this wonderful proxy work for a departed brother whose spouse I knew, but also for the blessing of meeting this wonderful pioneer sister.
By way of testimony, there are indeed special blessings that the Lord does provide, and sometimes they can occur when one may not expect them to occur, while the desire still remains strong, never losing faith even at the last possible moment. God lives and he loves us all dearly. He knows our good desires and provides for us ways to come across these blessings. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. |
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